So, I'm sitting here a bit fuzzy-headed from cold medicine, and I was thinking about doing one of the many end-of-the-year memes that everyone does on LJ in December, and I was about to do this whole long thing about what a difficult, rotten year this has been, going on and on about my cat this and my mother that and all the blah blah blah that I've been venting about this year.

But you know what? No. I'm as tired of that as you probably are. So instead, at the risk of feeling like I'm writing a grant, let's look at what I actually have accomplished in 2009 -- because it's nothing to sneeze at:

* Abandoned the traditional "submit endlessly to literary journals that no one reads except other people trying to get published in literary journals" model for a more grassroots "do readings and sell books" approach to getting my work out there. Seriously, best decision I ever made.

* Actually made money off my art, which I'd always talked about doing -- when I was a teenager I'd defiantly look teachers whose classes I was failing in protest in the eye when they asked me what I was going to be when I grew up and say, "I'm going to be a poet" -- but never actually managed to do before.

* Self-published two books of poetry, doing everything except the actual printing myself (and doing it quite well, if I do say so myself). Half finished with the third, which I think is really going to be amazing.

* Also, the work I'm doing now is probably the best I've ever done (thanks in no small part to toniamato's workshops)

* There's a huge amount of stuff to be proud of that I've accomplished or helped accomplish for and with the MTPC -- the surveys, the Suicide Prevention brochures, Lobby Day 2009, and the Judiciary Committee hearing all stand out in particular.

* And on the subject of the Judiciary Committee hearing, can I just say for anyone who was involved in any way with it that we rocked that thing? I mean seriously, just because the Committee is taking its time to realize that we did an amazing job there doesn't mean that we didn't.

* And just working with the MTPC in general. It's really meant the world to me to be doing something with my days that feels... well, I just love feeling useful. Does that make sense?

* Oh, and getting elected to (and feeling like a useful part of) MTPC's Steering Committee.

* Also? Finally started hormones, and the money to do so was entirely from my own inspiration and initiative.

* Got the heck out of Fenway Health (finally!)

* Managed to get over my paralyzing social anxiety enough to be relatively functional without anti-anxiety meds. For those of you who didn't know me when I could hardly leave the house more than once a week, take my word for it, this is really something.

* Kittens! OK, that's not actually an accomplishment, but yay kittens!